2013 Miss South Carolina Princess Jia Patel donates time to help the troops and their families.

2013 National American Miss South Carolina Princess Queen Jia Patel donates time to help the troops and their families.

SC Princess

SC Princess2When the holidays were approaching Jia Patel 2013 South Carolina Princess Queen took to heart the mission of the American Red Cross’ Holiday Mail for Heroes Campaign . This past holiday season Jia helped to host a holiday party to make cards to show gratitude towards our troops, veterans and military families. This was Jia’s second year helping to host this wonderful family event. During the holidays many of us make plans to spend times with our families and loved ones however many of our service members are unable to do this because they are overseas. The Holiday Mail for Heroes Party was a heart-warming event that got everyone into the holiday spirit! Jia enjoyed donating colored paper, stickers, markers and pens and had had even more fun making cards with her friends! A night of making cards of thanks and support to those who have made sacrifices and who have served our country was a great kick-off to the holiday season!

Cailee Calabrese, North Carolina Jr. Pre-Teen Queen, works hards for “Movies for Military.”

Cailee made her trip to give to the Troops to drop off the DVDs and puzzle books that she collected. She also visited the Warrior Transition Battalion where she distributed some DVDs to put in their movie room. Cailee has donated and collected over 1200 DVDs and 300 puzzle books since she started her own organization 3 years ago.

Cailee with the troopsCailee made her trip to give to the Troops to drop off the DVDs and puzzle books that she collected. She also visited the Warrior Transition Battalion where she distributed some DVDs to put in their movie room. Cailee has donated and collected over 1200 DVDs and 300 puzzle books since she started her own organization 3 years ago. Cailee was also proud to have met General Carpenter on our way to California who was just coming home from Afghanistan who took his picture with her and commended Cailee on her organization because he
appreciated the DVDs he received while stationed there. She also made a visit to Wesley Pines nursing center where Cailee called bingo for the residents. Cailee also adopted a military family for Christmas again this year.

“Movies for Military” is well its under way in that she has already collected 30 DVDs for our troops. Cailee is very proud to in her words “to give a gift back for protecting us.”

2009 National American Miss North Carolina Princess Cailee Calabrese working hard to raise support for our military.

Once again Cailee kicked off her “Movies for Military” in the fall and was able to collect over 646 DVDs and 100 puzzle books for our troops.

Once again Cailee kicked off her “Movies for Military” in the fall and was able to collect over 646 DVDs and 100 puzzle books for our troops. In fall of 2009 she collected over 200 DVDs so she was quite proud that she was able to more than triple that in 2010. Cailee and her family do so much with the project on a ongoing basis that  they have officially registered the trademark “Movies for Military.”  They are just beginning the new year and already have collected over 45 DVDs and 40 puzzle books.

 In September 11th Cailee also participated in the Freedom Walk at the Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC where she spoke to over 600 participants about her project and received a standing ovation from the two star Major General Rodney Anderson which he initiated. In October, State Representative Rick Glazier came to her school to give her a special acknowledgment for her project. At Christmas time, Cailee also sponsered a military family.